Writer, model, photographer, editor, multimedia artist etc. Andrea Grant is 6'1"

Andrea Grant a.k.a. 'The Pin-Up Poet' has had more than 250 articles, poems and photos published internationally. She is the creator of the comic book series 'Andrea Grant's MINX' which merges Native American mythology with clever contemporary fantasy, exploring such themes as the duality of human nature and the thin line between dreams and reality. She also plays the character of Minx.

Always a central figure in her art, she thrusts herself before the viewer, demanding interpretation. Her work is ambiguous and thrives on tension, occupying the various gray areas between exhibitionism and art, fashion and fetishism, popular culture and canon. Her body of work is constantly expanding and includes poetry, photography, collage, 3D paintings, audio recording, acting, modeling, and live performance, exploring mythological archetypes and the contradictions of modern womanhood.

She is the founder of Copious Amounts Press, the publishing house that has produced a variety of limited edition art books and multimedia projects since 2001, including Copious Magazine, and "The Pin-Up Poet' art book.

Visit her website

Updated: January 5, 2017 - 11:37 AM EST

by Jenice Armstrong, Daily News Columnist @JeniceArmstrong

For us tall women, the struggle is real. Clothes don't fit right. Strangers on the street say the most idiotic things to you, every single day. You're expected to sit in the back.

So I'm not completely surprised that a principal dancer for the Pennsylvania Ballet was fired because of her height.

Sara Michelle Murawski, most recently the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, has been cut from the company's roster for the upcoming season because she's too tall.

Yes, you read that correctly.

And at 6-foot-2, I'm taking it personally.

She's only 5-11 - a bit taller when she's standing en pointe — but still, Murawski's beautiful limbs were considered too elongated. Her one-year contract will not be renewed.

That stinks, because Murawski left a job she loved as a soloist at the Slovak National Ballet to come all the way to Philadelphia to perform. Needless to say, she's devastated.

"It should be about the dance. That's what I was always told," Murawski said sadly Wednesday evening when I reached her by telephone. "Just to be told that it's your height, that's disheartening."

"They said it's a budget problem and they can't get a tall male," as her dance partner, she added.

She'd just performed the starring role in The Nutcracker the previous night, when she wascalled aside and told the devastating news — less than an hour before she was scheduled to perform again. She broke down in tears, but had to pull herself together.

"It came absolutely out of nowhere," said Michelene Murawski of Philadelphia, Sara's mother, so stressed by the firing that she's become ill.

Her daughter's biological father is 6-feet-4-inches tall, and Michelene knew early on that Sara would be tall. She tried getting her daughter into basketball, but Sara fell madly in love with dance. She was doing ballet in her sleep.

In the dance world, Murawski is what they call a "bunhead." (I heard her refer to herself that way, so I'm not out of line.) She knew early on that it would be harder for her than for other dancers, so she poured all of her energy into being the best.

"I always have to be so much better in order to be accepted," she told me. "In Russia, they love it.... They think this is the ideal for a ballerina, that you have long limbs on the stage. In America, it's very different."

Murawski's dancing abilities don't appear to be in question. So if ballet officials had an issue with a tall dancer, why woo her here? Now that she's finally here and performing beautifully, she gets a hard toe shoe up her backside, because they apparently don't like the idea of a tall female looming over shorter male dancers.

When Americans go to the ballet or to any other artistic performance, we expect to see this great nation reflected on the stage. That means performers of all sizes, races, ages. The only criterion should be whether they can perform. Yo, it's 2017. I shouldn't have to point this out.

David Gray, the Ballet's executive director, tried to defend the company's action in a statement: "Building a world class ballet company is similar to building a world class sports team. Just as there are excellent athletes whose careers are better fulfilled at one team than another, there are excellent dancers who will better fulfill their potential at different companies. Just as a coach must make difficult decisions that they feel are in the best interests of the team, so does an Artistic Director."

But coaches judge players on athletic ability. Not on appearance.

The company should get taller male dancers if officials are hung up on the outdated notion that a man is supposed to be taller than his female partner. How many celebrity examples have we seen lately in which the female is considerably taller? Comedian Kevin Hart and his gorgeous bride Eniko come to mind. First Lady Michelle Obama stands eye-to-eye with President Obama when she's in heels.

The way Murawski is being treated reminds me of African American ballerinas historically denied opportunities because of their skin color or the size of their posteriors.

"Dancers of color have gone through that and are still going through that every single day," said Kim Bears-Bailey, assistant artistic director of Philadanco, founded in 1970 to create opportunities for black dancers. "Sara will get another job.... But what about the women of color who don't even get in the room?"

A friend of Murawski's put together a GoFundMe account [https://www.gofundme.com/season-pay-for-philly-ballet-couple] to raise $100,000 to keep her in Philadelphia and to help the company hire a tall male dancer to partner with her.

Please be generous. Talent knows no shape, size, or hue.

@JeniceArmstrong
Blog: ph.ly/HeyJen
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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By Harold Gutmann | Apr 9, 2015
Special to espnW

It all finally got to be too much, so Nancy Mulkey sat down. Right there on the spattered sidewalk in San Antonio.

Gawking bystanders were taking pictures of the 17-year-old kid because -- sure as her name is Nancy -- she stands 6 feet, 9 inches tall. So if even for just 10 minutes, before heading off to her next destination down the road, Mulkey needed a break, an escape from the scrutiny of all these strangers.

It was the kind of experience that, believe it or not, is relatively routine for Mulkey -- for tall women everywhere -- and Mulkey says that San Antonio scene could be included in an upcoming TLC show featuring Mulkey that is scheduled to air in August. It is tentatively titled "My Giant Life."

Mulkey, who has been pushing 6-10 since a nine-inch growth spurt before her freshman year in high school, is still sometimes annoyed by the gawking, but she's also become more confident about her stature. Success has a way of doing that.

"I'm not as shy about my height," said Mulkey, who just polished off her junior season at Cypress Woods (Texas) with a girls' basketball state title. "I strut more. I'm not slouching as much. I want to stand tall."

And a big reason for her transformation, Mulkey said, has been basketball. The Oklahoma-bound junior post player is the No. 21 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the Class of 2016. She has agility, good hands and an emerging midrange game. On defense, she's a dangerous shot-blocker who alters opponents' offenses merely by her presence.

"When you're a tall female and a teenager, that can be awkward at times, but what has really catapulted Nancy to a place of confidence has been her ability to do well on the basketball court," Cypress Woods coach Virginia Flores said. "When she walks the hall in our school, there's a sense of respect and even reverence for what she's been able to bring to our basketball program, and of course that's a confidence-booster for Nancy, and in turn it's made her hungrier and want to improve her game even more."

When the producers of the TLC documentary were looking for potential subjects, they typed "tall women" into an Internet search engine and found Mulkey.

After an audition with a producer over Skype, Mulkey was chosen as one of four subjects for the series, which is scheduled to air over four hours in August. She did not get paid and she received notification from the NCAA that appearing on the show would not jeopardize her eligibility.

The television show is meant to document the day-to-day hardships for tall women, such as finding clothes that fit (Mulkey was filmed trying on prom dresses) and dealing with constant -- and oftentimes uncomfortable -- attention.

The series will cap a whirlwind junior year for Mulkey. She gave a verbal commitment to Oklahoma in October and then averaged 10.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 blocks as Cypress Woods won its first state championship in program history in Class 6A, the highest classification in the state.

"I didn't plan on committing this early, but people say, 'When you know, you know,' " said Mulkey, who plans to major in special education.

Mulkey was guided through the process by her mother, 6-foot-7 Dolores Bootz-Mulkey, who starred for Georgia Tech from 1985 to 1988 and still holds the school records for career scoring average (18.9 points per game), field goal percentage (.593) and blocked shots (245).

Mulkey, who started playing basketball in third grade, had initially told the Sooners that she wasn't interested, and Oklahoma wasn't included on her list of finalists. But Sooners coach Sherri Coale called Dolores and convinced the Mulkeys to visit campus.

When Nancy got there, she felt a welcoming atmosphere she didn't get from other schools.

"Usually when recruits go on visits, some players at certain schools don't really associate with certain recruits," Mulkey said. "The Oklahoma players devoted their whole weekend just to me. That meant a lot to me, and I felt really comfortable with them. I was there one day and I didn't want to leave."

Then came a historic season for Cypress Woods. Mulkey said a loss in the state tournament last year to Manvel and future Notre Dame standout Brianna Turner helped prepare the Wildcats for their first state championship this season.

"That showed us what we needed to work on and how we needed to play to win states," said Mulkey, who averaged more than 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game and was an all-state selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

After winning gold medals on Team USA in each of the past two summers -- first at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and then at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship -- Mulkey is now hoping for an invitation to the U19 tryouts next month.

"Her playing with the USA team the last two summers has really elevated her game," Flores said. "When you're around other people who are around your height, that can push you in a way that maybe your own high school teammates can't and made her step up her game."

Spending another summer with Team USA would be an ideal finish for a big year in the spotlight for Mulkey, who found her future school, won a state title and will be featured on national television -- perhaps even that sidewalk scene in downtown San Antonio.

"It's been tough for her at times to be 6-9," Flores said. "When we first get to a tournament, people aren't familiar with her and they're staring and gawking. When she was a freshman that was hard for her to take in, but now she embraces that. She's like, 'Yeah, I'm 6-9 and I'm pretty darn good.'

"She now looks at it as a sign of respect."

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At 75, Carol Mann’s legacy is more than a 'tall tale'

By Cliff Schrock

When nature and genetics conspire to put a person in a unique situation, the question is whether the individual can make something of it or let it be a distraction in life. Such was Carol Mann’s predicament. The most accomplished tall player in women’s golf, the 6-foot-3 Mann took on every cliché-filled golf story about “tall Carol” who “strikes a giant figure” as “the lankiest golfer on the LPGA” and “sees life and golf from a different perspective” and made a memorable Hall of Fame career out of it.

With Mann having turned 75 on Feb. 3, it’s a good time to review a career that produced 38 LPGA Tour victories and the 1965 U.S. Women’s Open. Mann could have written many of those golf stories herself. An opinionated player who made her thoughts known and who served as LPGA president and vice president for many years during her playing prime, she also has done guest-column writing since her career wound down, including with the Houston Post starting in 1990.

That was 10 years after the final tour event of her playing career, which had begun in earnest as a teenager in Chicago with a membership at Olympia Fields. Early on, Mann wasn’t entirely comfortable with her extra height, and early in her career admitted to being self-conscious, awkward and shy. But the oft-used phrase “comfortable in her own skin” did eventually apply, and she won her first tour event, the Women’s Western Open, in 1964 at age 23. As she matured, her comfort level went up. In 1971, LPGA player and teacher DeDe Owens described Mann as “so bubbly, so friendly with a big warm smile for everyone. She has a good, inquiring mind and a sharp wit.”

Mann won four events in 1975, but they were to be her last. She couldn’t overcome the toll of being involved in tour politics and working hard to make the modern LPGA Tour a success. Exhaustion and a tall person’s worst enemy—chronic back pain—worked against her. She had previously had serious neck and back troubles dating back to 1967, and had been told in 1969 not to play competitive golf for more than two or three years because of her back. In 1981 she tried to transition from a tall person’s high-handed, arching swing motion to a shortened, hold-the-angles movement but she didn’t excel with it.

Including her writing, Mann’s post career included work with the Women’s Sports Foundation, expanded teaching to a busier career at The Woodlands in Houston, an ambassador and special consultant to the World Golf Hall of Fame, a TV analyst, and she ran the first woman-owned course design and management firm.

In 1969, at the apex of her tour success, Mann had fun with her height and, feeling she resembled a giraffe, adopted the animal as her symbol, having it printed on business cards. But better labels were to come: 1976 recipient of the Babe Zaharias Award, the 2008 PGA First Lady of Golf, and inclusion in a ranking of the “100 Heroes of American Golf.”

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Basketball Great Anne Donovan Dies at 56

By Doug Doyle • 12 hours ago

Not only was Anne Donovan a legendary and pioneering figure in women's basketball, she was also one of the kindest and thoughtful people I have ever met. 

Donovan, a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey who dominated play at Paramus Catholic High school, won Olympic gold as a player and as a coach for the United States.  

Donovan died Wednesday of heart failure. She was 56.

Anne was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 and also was part of the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.  I asked her back in a 2012 episode of SportsJam with Doug Doyle if the women’s hall meant more to her.

"Gosh, it's tough because of who I went into that class with.  I went in with all the people I admired, respected and looked up to from the first concept of women's basketball for me.  So, going into that class was very special with the company I went in with.  The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was something I never aspired to, I just never thought that would be possible, and going in with Kareen Abdul-Jabbar and Cheryl Miller who was one of my peers, made that class very special also."

Donovan, a 6-foot-8 center coached at Seton Hall University and in the WNBA.  Why did she coach?

"I never aspired to be a coach even through college.  I played six years of professional basketball and didn't aspire to coach and kind of fell into it by chance . When my basketball player career came to an end, I got roped into being a volunteer coach, but I found that I really loved it.  I loved feeling like I could make a difference in these ladies lives and having gone through a pretty long career myself, I felt like I had something to offer."

To give you an example of the type of person Anne Donovan was, here's what she did for me when I was doing the PA announcing for her Seton Hall women's home games.  Each year she got the all the players on her team to sign a card for me, expressing their thanks for helping announce their games and being a part of the Pirates program.  That's class.  Who does that?

I told Anne during our 2012 interview that I first saw her when Old Dominion came to Penn State to play a big game that season.  I looked up and saw the tallest woman I had ever seen at that point.   I came to learn many years later, that her heart was actually bigger than her height.  She made me feel special and part of her squad.  I will never forget those games.

At Old Dominion, Donovan won an AIAW championship and lead ODU to the NCAA Women's Final Four as a senior.

Prior to her days coaching at Seton Hall, she had an terrific coaching career in the WNBA, becoming the first female coach and youngest person to win a title in the WNBA, helping the Seattle Storm to the 2004 championship.  She coached five WNBA teams including the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun.

Donovan was named The Star-Ledger's Player of the Century in 2000.  She scored 1,000 points in a single twice at Paramus Catholic High School, won four state titles and was the nation's top recruit.  

Her family confirmed her death in a statement. "While it is extremely difficult to express how devastating it is to lose Anne, our family remains so very grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful human being."

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By MECHELLE VOEPEL via ESPN | Nov 16, 2016, 12:41 PM ET

ESPN the Magazine's Nov. 28 "Tall Ball" issue, which focuses on the varied aspects of height and sport, prompted us to ask around about #tallgirlproblems. Not to stereotype, but tall women often have some specific challenges that they deal with. But even the most annoying stuff wouldn't make any of the women we spoke with want to give up even an inch of their height.

It's just sometimes... hey, the next time you see a tall woman, please try to refrain from asking horrible corny stuff like "How's the weather up there?" All tall women thank you in advance.

Brianna Turner, 6-foot-3, Notre Dame forward

"It's mostly things like sleeves not being long enough. Or knee-high boots that are not knee-high at all on me. And I always say when we do push-ups it's harder if you are tall and have longer arms. Or doing pull-ups."

Alaina Coates, 6-4, South Carolina center

"My top pet peeve is finding jeans long enough. I'll just have to roll them up and make them look like they're supposed to be that way. So when it's really cold, my ankles will be freezing.

"You can shop online, but if they don't fit right, you have to send them back. And most of the time, I'm just like, 'Forget it.' "

Lisa Leslie, 6-5, former Los Angeles Sparks star and Naismith Hall of Famer

"I would say my No. 1 tall girl problem is that people have to ask me every day, 'Do you play basketball?' I've had people make comments about my height every day of my life. That can get annoying. I'm thankful for it; I used it. You don't go around commenting on someone's weight or size, so it's just really annoying. It's the kind of thing that people should just say to themselves: 'Wow, she's really tall.' But I don't need to be informed that I'm tall. I get it."

Tina Thompson, 6-2, WNBA's all-time scoring leader

"I've been blessed to be able to find clothes and shoes; for me that hasn't been that difficult. Probably the most annoying are the awkward, lame conversations and the clich? one-liners. Like, 'Is the view better up there?' What do you say to stuff like that?

"Just say hello, introduce yourself and let's move on to politics, sports, whatever you want to talk about. The lead-in with the tall-girl joke was very unnecessary."

Sylvia Fowles, 6-6, Minnesota Lynx, 2016 WNBA defensive player of the year

"A lot of jeans that come in longer lengths have flared legs. I hate flares. I hate wide legs. I feel like all tall-girl jeans should be skinny. So when I do find a pair I like that fits, I buy them in every color.

"If someone asks me the basketball question, I change it up. I say, 'Oh, actually I play water polo.' And nobody really wants to talk to me much about that."

Swin Cash, 6-2, just retired from New York Liberty

"Airplanes would be first. My jeans would be another. I get mad all the time, because jeans just aren't cut properly.

"Then there's the 'Tall guys like short girls, and vice versa'... that can be a tall girl problem.

"With the standard hotel-room shower, and you're trying to wash your hair, you have to maneuver around.

"You are always going to get asked if you play volleyball or basketball. And if you were to say that you didn't play sports, people look at you with a kind of disdain, like, 'You wasted your height!' Your height just makes them think you automatically have to be an athlete."

Nneka Ogwumike, 6-2, Los Angeles Sparks, 2016 WNBA MVP

"One of the shortcomings of being tall -- ha ha -- is that you can never swing your feet when you're sitting on a stool.

"And you always have to be at the back of a photo. I like being in the front. That's why a lot of times in photos, you see me lying down in front. I want to be seen, you know?

"Pants aren't so bad, because nowadays there are a lot of different outlets to buy from. I do almost all of my shopping online, and the clothes are super trendy, which is awesome. I love it.

"Another huge issue is sitting on airplanes. Actually, though, I'm not sure that's just a tall girl problem. That's like a human-rights issue. (Laughs)

"I also feel like climbing stairs is a little more difficult for us, because of the leverage. And I feel more tired after stairs, and that's confusing to me because I'm athletic.

"People always assume I'm a basketball or volleyball player. One guy, though, came up and asked me if I was a ballerina. I said, 'Are you being serious?' and he seemed like he was.

"The short guys are always like, 'I love me a tall girl.' And it's like, 'Seriously?'

"I love shoes, and people will say, 'Why are you wearing heels? You're tall already.' And I said, 'That has nothing to do with me wearing heels.' So that's pretty annoying."

On peoples' reactions to seeing her with sister Chiney Ogwumike, who is 6-3: "It's always like, 'Where are you guys from?' and I'm like, 'Is that question just because we're tall?'

"But overall, I have no issues with it. It's a beautiful thing."

Jantel Lavender, 6-4, Los Angeles Sparks, 2016 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year

"The biggest one is clothes, although it's gotten better over the years. But you can't just go into a store -- if something comes up -- and find pants that fit. Or getting a dress that's long enough for your arms. Or shoes -- you can't just go get a nice pair of heels to wear to an event.

"I shop at ASOS.com -- they have a tall section that is amazing. I have so many clothes now that I'm never caught off guard."

"I would say toilets are pretty low. It's just so far down, and then the stall doors aren't that high all the time, so your head's sticking up. But I think it becomes second-nature for us to adjust."

Candace Parker, 6-4, Los Angeles Sparks, 2016 WNBA Finals MVP

"I'm against stereotypes, so I hate fitting the stereotype. People are like, 'Oh, you must play basketball.' And I'm like [lowers voice and sounds a bit disgusted], 'Yes.'

Has girls' embarrassment over being tall changed? "I hope it has. My daughter is around so many tall women, I don't think it registers to her that she's dwarfing her classmates. She's tall; she holds her shoulders back with pride. We tease her about her big feet, and she loves them and her long legs.

"I think it's generational. I wasn't always the happiest being as tall as I was, but I learned to accept it and then love it."

A'ja Wilson, 6-5, South Carolina forward

"Other than clothes sometimes, I don't really see any problems with being tall."

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Sunday, 7 June 2015 - 6:30am | Place: Mumbai | Agency: dna | From the print edition

Roshni Nair, Averil Nunes, Rama Sreekant

Too short or too tall, they don't fit society's definition of 'normal' and often find themselves on the margins of mainstream life. But they have taken on the challenge imposed by their height to forge their own identities. Roshni Nair, Averil Nunes and Rama Sreekant get an insight into the the struggles of those who give us valuable life lessons in how to make the most of adversity

Gender games

"One of my clients, a schoolgirl, lost all self-confidence as she had a tough time due to her height," says Chhabria. "She'd slouch and shun socialising because she perennially feared she'd be made fun of. As it is, every girl is body-conscious at a point. When kids make fun of you at this juncture, it can scar."

Goregaon resident Vijaya Pawar has been witness to this. She stands 5'10" tall and is hardly what one would insensitively call a 'giant'. But she grew up at a time when the average Indian height was less than what it is today. "In my village, people would say things like 'Tu bahut jaldi budhdhi ho jayegi', or 'You're so big now, why aren't you married yet?' This was when I was still in school," she says, and admits the pressure to fit in led to the drooping of the shoulders and consequently, a slight but lifelong hunch.

"I've seen mothers of girls who are 5'9"-5'10" encouraging them to stoop because they 'won't get boys who'll marry them'," shares orthopaedist Dr Neeraj Bijlani. Public infrastructure is also not adjusted for tall Indians, leave alone 'abnormally tall' ones, he adds. So having to constantly bend or sit uncomfortably in seats that are ergonomic only for the majority can predispose one to joint problems.

Then there's Scheuermann's Disease, a classic example of a socio-cultural phenomenon leading to a medical issue. Bijlani explains: "This condition is caused due to constant slouching, which affects the growth of the vertebrae and creates a hunchback. In my practice, the male-female prevalence is 1:10."

There's more. "If those affected are still growing, belts, braces and posture correction can be undertaken. The condition can't be reversed for adults. Their only option is corrective surgery," he says.

Citing numerous studies, The Atlantic's Joe Pinsker said in a May 2015 article titled 'The Financial Perks of Being Tall', "...an extra inch is worth almost $800 a year in elevated earnings." Meaning the taller you are, the more you'll earn – if you're in a 'Western' country.

Former I Am She Miss Universe India runner-up Reha Sukheja is yet to have a level playing field, leave alone get a fatter paycheck than peers. At 6'1", this 24-year-old is often rejected at auditions for commercials due to her height. "People say, 'Sorry, you're too tall'. If I'm auditioning for 10 ads, I'll go beyond step one in maybe two-three. Mostly since those will be 'solo girl' ads with no men," she says.

When she was in school, her PT teacher pushed her into the basketball queue even though she wanted to play volleyball. And having to cock her ear to hear what people around are saying is routine. "It's awkward posing for pictures. And yes, people look me up and down – first to see my height, then at my feet to check if I'm wearing heels and then back up again for confirmation," she laughs. But all this, she adds, isn't a bugbear like
the professional constraints she faces.

In an atmosphere where significantly tall women condition themselves to bending, slouching and feeling overtly conscious of their heights, Sukheja is an exception. It helps that her father and mother – former model Renu Sukheja, herself 5'10" – never made her feel small about her height. Reha always maintained a straight posture, basically flipping the bird to all those who encourage 'lambus' to do otherwise or say things like tall girls don't 'need' to wear heels. She also has no qualms dating shorter men – her current boyfriend is a few inches shorter. "If both of us are okay with it, I don't see why anyone else should care," she underlines.

This is the attitude parents, teachers and guardians should foster in the considerably tall instead of alienating them further, says Anjali Chhabria. Society will keep projecting its anxieties on anyone with a different body. The antidote is to be accept and be comfortable in your own skin.

How long, then, before those like Sukheja – and others of varying body types – get to play in a level field? One can only hope it won't be a wait for eternity.

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Brigitte Nielsen (born Gitte Nielsen; 15 July 1963 in Copenhagen) is a Danish actress, model, singer, and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later acted in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV. She is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone, with whom she starred in the 1986 film Cobra. She played Karla Fry on Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), co-starring Eddie Murphy, and played the Dark Witch in the Italian TV Series Cave of the Golden Rose between 1992–1996. She appeared also in Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl" and Austrian Rock Star Falco's "Body Next To Body" music videos.

Her exploits were well-covered in the entertainment media in the 1980s, and the world press started referring to her as an "Amazon"[1][2][3] because of her tall stature.

She later built a career appearing in B-movies, and in the 2000s, for appearing on reality shows such as Flavor of Love. In 2008, she appeared on the reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which depicted her and several other celebrities dealing with recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

She released several albums between 1987–2002 (Every Body Tells a Story, I'm the One... Nobody Else and more singles). Recently, she performed (as Gitte Nielsen) on the song Misery with Spleen United, from the album School of Euphoria (2012).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Nielsen

Visit her website

I grew up in New England, with an identical twin, a younger brother, and a menagerie of animals. I did some goofy things as an adolescent: I learned all the constellations in the Western Hemisphere; I tried to set the Guinness World Record for crawling (I managed 8.5 miles, but the record was 11); I built a boat out of milk cartons, then convinced my twin and a friend to join me on the river, then waded to shore with them when it broke up in the first rapid.

I graduated from Stanford University, where I studied Communications. At the time I had a vague idea that perhaps I would become a documentary filmmaker. Instead, in 1989, I became a San Francisco firefighter.

I wrote about my thirteen and a half year career in Fighting Fire, an updated version of which came out in 2011. I'd tell you about those years, but really, you should just read the book. I will only say that being in a fire made me happy, and doing emergency medical work intrigued me. All of it made me a better person.

The most remote place I've been is Siberia, where I saw a Unidentified Flying Object that may or may not have been the Soviet military. The highest place I've been was on a mountain bike in the Bolivian Alps back when mountain bikes were scarce and 15,000 feet didn't hurt as much as it would now. The most isolated I've ever felt was in a blizzard on Mt. Denali, where we had to stay in the tent and pee into a Gatorade bottle.

My novel East Wind, Rain came out in 2006. A movie based on the book is in production. In 2013, my third book Lost Cat, A True Story of Love, Desperation and GPS Technology was published. It was named a Best Book by Jezebel and by the influential website Brainpickings. It has also been optioned for a film.

Writing never happens in a vaccuum. I've been part of the San Francisco Writers Grotto since 1999; without that community I would have quit this strange career, or gone insane, years ago. I'm also constantly inspired by my kickass siblings: my identical twin is the accomplished actress Alexandra Paul and my brother is the righteous animal rights activist Jonathan Paul.

In my free time, I fly an experimental plane. I read books. I go to movies. Much of this is done around San Francisco, where I live with my partner, the artist Wendy MacNaughton, three cats, an array of solar panels, and countless unread back issues of the New Yorker.

Visit her website

Caroline Welz is 6'9" and the joint tallest woman in Germany

I have known Caro for several years. She's not only tall, she is absolutely stunning and, what's best, very level-headed. If there's one young tall woman who can be a role model for others it has to be Caro. Good luck to you, doll-face!

About Carolyn Moos

Our life experiences combined with our education shape our sociological beings. Here is a window to what has shaped the person I am today. I look forward to hearing your story, too!

I embrace my 6'5" stature as a unique attribute that is a reflection of my gift- to influence, educate and inspire individuals who seek to improve their health.

Who is Carolyn Moos and What is FITT4LIFE

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I played for USA Basketball, Stanford (B. A. Sociology, Minor Communications), FIBA/WNBA and completed my Masters at USC in Communication Management, (where my masters thesis focused on the power of preventative health, and lifestyle related diseases (type II diabetes, heart disease and more). I currently practice as an ACE Certified nutrition consultant and trainer in Los Angeles and am completing my R. D.. I also work with clients in a virtual environment through e-mail and phone consultations for nutrition log analysis and virtual training sessions for yoga, weights, cardio and circuit training. You can train with me anytime, anywhere in the world and I will be certain to keep you FITT4Life! I am primarily focused on Nutrigenomics and studies that examine molecular relationships between nutrition and the response of genes, with the goal of understanding how changes in nutrition (exercise, stress reduction) can affect human health and lower risk of disease. I focus on glycemic index, macronutrient profiling, and body composition, while integrating bio/psycho/social aspects of lifestyle change.

My primary demographics include: baby boomers (lowering risk of disease, longevity and vitality), elite athletes (lowering risk of injury and aiding in the rehab process), mothers-to-be (maintaining a healthy body pre and post pregnancy) and the general public with goals to change their lifestyle. This website outlines the effective and engaging combination of nutrition, exercise and lifestyle management in my FITT4Life program. I may be contacted via cell phone at 310-600-3320 or E-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Your unique attributes are a priceless gift. Recognize them; utilize them to fuel your sense of empowerment, place and purpose.
Carolyn Moos

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Oldest of Gary and Laura's children, Catherine Leigh Osterman was born on April 16, 1983 in Houston, Texas, and has two younger brothers, Craig and Chris. She played soccer and basketball until the day she filled in for her Little League softball team as a back-up pitcher. She was hooked and asked for pitching lessons for her eleventh birthday. From that point on, her passion for softball blossomed and she became a high school and club softball phenomenon. To avoid confusion with another Catherine, her coaches began calling her "Cat".

A left-hander, Cat stands 6-2, with hands so large she can grip a softball entirely with her fingers rather than having to cradle it in her palm. That allows her to put above-average spin on the ball and surprise batters as arguably no one has. She has command of six pitches but claims she rarely throws her fastball.

In summer of 2001, after graduating from Cypress Springs (Texas) High School as the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year, Osterman was invited to join USA Softball's national team. Over the years, Cat has accumulated impressive stats and won other numerous awards. She ranks first in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings at 15.4, and is the first softball player to twice appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She owns four of the top five seasons for the NCAA's best strikeout ratio (strikeouts per seven innings pitched), and was the first of only three NCAA pitchers to register 2,000-plus strikeouts. Cat won a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics and is now looking forward to competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As a Texas LonghornDuring her four years on the Forty Acres, Osterman was named USA Softball National Player of the Year three times and is noted as one of the top softball pitchers in the world. Osterman was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team to take home a gold medal in Athens in 2004, and the 6-2 lefthander set the NCAA career strikeout record (2,265) and strikeout ratio record for strikeouts-per-seven innings (14.4), as well as ranking No. 2 all-time in career shutouts (85). While leading the NCAA in 2006 with an ERA of 0.37 and 15.4 strikeouts-per-seven-innings pitched, Osterman finished 38-4 with 28 shutouts and five no-hitters and led 55-9 Texas to a Women's College World Series berth (softball's final eight) for the third time in her Longhorn career.

Osterman has broken virtually every University of Texas school pitching record, as well as several Big 12 Conference records. As a freshman, she pitched the first perfect game in UT softball history - the first of her seven career perfect games and just one of her 20 career no-hitters. As a sophomore she was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year after leading the Longhorns to their second-ever Women's College World Series appearance. In her junior year, she posted a season record of 30-7 with a 0.36 ERA, pitched 22 shutouts and six no-hitters with three perfect games to again garner Player of the Year laurels and a return trip to the World Series.

Osterman was a four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and three-time Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year (only athlete from any men's or women's sport to earn the honor more than once) and was the four-time Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year - becoming the first Big 12 student-athlete across all sports to earn a player of the year honor four times. In addition, the psychology major was a three-year member of the All-Big 12 Academic Team.

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Catherine Bell - in her own words

Let's see... where do I start? Most of you know who I am by now....but in case you don't:

I was a tomboy...still am – I love cars, motorcycles, extreme sports. I am seriously addicted to technology, gadgets, cell phones, PDA's – especially my iPhone & iPad.

I LOVE being a mom more than ANYTHING! It's absolutely the best "job" I've ever had. It's hard to believe you actually fall more and more in love with those little creatures every day. My daughter, Gemma, is the BEST big sis to her little brother Ronan who was born in August 2010.

I have a tattoo of each of my kid's names – Gemma in ancient Persian on my left wrist and Ronan on my right inner forearm in an ancient Celtic alphabet called Ogham. And an OLD tattoo that's being lightened and re-done eventually (on my right ankle).

I was torn between art and medical or engineering school – I chose Biomedical Engineering (don't ask!) and then left school to model.

I was too shy to act, so I took an acting class to express myself better...it worked! (And I was hooked)

I want to learn to fly helicopters and planes one day!

I love to paint – though my favorite kind of painting these days is with my daughter – doing projects/crafts and soon with Ronan.

I love the way acting communicates to so many on so many different levels. I can't imagine doing anything else. To know a part I play or a show or movie I'm in can make someone I've never met somewhere in the world LAUGH or FEEL or be moved or inspired in some way..... whether it brightens their day or makes them think... that is the most incredible feeling and makes me very excited to go to work or to find the next project...

I love to help! There's nothing like knowing you made someone's life better, richer, happier.

And THAT... is a little taste of who I am.

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Chantelle Anderson

Chantelle writes: "After being a 3-time basketball All-American and graduating from Vanderbilt University, I played in the WNBA and Europe for six years. I was also a college coach for three years and now I work in Corporate America. I have done hundreds of speaking engagements on self-esteem, sports, success and making it against the odds. My life changed for the better when I decided to follow Jesus for real. Now I do everything to make Him proud and other people's lives better."

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Chase says her extreme height - she is 6'5 in flats - made her first pick in sports at school

And while she is busy building a career as a model, she has been turned down by some agencies for being too TALL. The 6’5" beauty’s pins measure a lengthy 51 inches – which is 0.9 inches off the world record.

The 22-year-old, from California, was nicknamed ‘legs’ and ‘giraffe’ in school, but says that her assets have helped her excel in sports. Now Chase has emerged to trump the current US record holder, Holly Burt - whose legs measure an impressive 49.5 inches. Chase said: “I am proud of my legs – I wouldn’t want anything different.

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Frustrated by the lack of stylish options for tall women, pro basketball athlete and designer Diana Delva launched her own direct-to-consumer clothing label.

By Elizabeth Segran - 5 minute Read

When designer Diana Delva was in middle school, she was already more than six feet tall, towering over most of her classmates. On the upside, this meant that she was a shoo-in for the basketball team. But on the downside, it was hard finding cute clothes to wear. Many of the teen brands that other high school girls wore simply did not fit on her large frame.
 
Delva went on to play basketball at the University of Hartford, and later, professionally, as part of the European basketball league. That’s when it struck her that many of her fellow athletes had similar gripes: Fashion labels viewed tall women as an afterthought rather than a valued customer.

In college, while on a full athletic scholarship, Delva interned at DSquared2 to learn about the fashion industry. Then, last year she launched her own brand, Chèlbè, which focuses entirely on the needs of tall women. This means creating trousers with bigger inseams and blouses with longer arms, all in the season’s trends. She showed her fall 2017 collection at New York Fashion Week, where she was named a “designer to watch.” She now sells clothes directly to consumers through her website, where she is focused on ensuring that her garments are at an affordable price point of under $80.

As a black woman setting out into the fashion world, Delva doesn’t have very many role models that look like her. But she does take comfort in the fact that black communities have always been very scrappy when it comes to adapting fashion trends to suit their needs. She looks to someone like Dapper Dan, for instance, who realized back in the ’90s that the luxury European designers weren’t designing for the bodies and styles of black people. So, he went out and plastered the logos of Louis Vuitton and Gucci on expensive leather, turning them into bomber jackets and jumpsuits that were a hit with the hip-hop world.

It’s this sense of resourcefulness that inspires Delva not to accept her position as an underserved customer, but to do something about it, even if it means starting a clothing line of her own.

Fast Company: Tell me about your brand. 

Diana Delva: Chèlbè is a fashionably tall clothing line catering to women 5’9 and up. The name comes from a creole word that means elegant, chic, or luxurious in dress, style, or design. I’ve translated this concept into a versatile, comfortable, and fashion-forward collection.
 
Pieces are made to accentuate and accommodate lengthier features with longer inseam, torso, and arm lengths. Some of our best sellers include the three-way jumpsuit, which is a twist on a classic black jumpsuit with asymmetrical cuts and front zipper that you can adjust to wear three ways. Others include the Illusion Palazzo Pant, high-waist flowing pants that have the illusion of shifting shades as you walk, or the simple T-shirt dress that makes a statement “Fashionably Tall.”

FC: What made you decide to launch it?

DD: I reached 6’1 by the age of 14 and quickly realized the struggle of shopping tall. I found it even more impossible as I grew older and adopted my own sense of fashion and style. Most tall options available were very basic styles that often didn’t fit my budget.

And as a basketball player, I ran into lots of women who had the same issues. It was even harder for us to show our feminine side because we couldn’t find clothing to reflect that. We would often exchange styling tips and share where we could find clothes. While shopping in mainstream stores, we opted for the men’s section, plus-sized clothing, or the cropped look. We would also pull up our sleeves and wear ankle and high boots that gave the illusion of clothing that fit.

I decided to launch Chèlbè out of pure need. I was tired of endless shopping trips trying on everything that didn’t fit. I wanted on-trend styles that regular-height women could find without the added cost.

FC: Do you feel like black consumers are underserved in your product category? If so, then why and how?
 
DD: I like to think that black consumers are at the forefront of style and setting trends since you often see those same styles mimicked in mainstream fashion. One of the bigger examples is of Gucci replicating a design by Dapper Dan, which after backlash led to a collaboration. Or the variations of cornrows you see in today’s fashion. The selection of tall clothing is very limited and, in some sense, limiting to individual style and expression. But it goes to show the resourcefulness of the black consumer. Whatever the product or budget, black consumers find a way to make it a style of their own.

FC: Are black entrepreneurs underrepresented in your industry? Why do you think this is? 

DD: I think black entrepreneurs are underrepresented in most industries, not just in the fashion world. I think that has to do with the social disparities that black entrepreneurs have to overcome. We are not starting on the same playing field. Statistically black people are less privileged when it comes to basic needs like income and education. It’s a lot harder to break into the fashion world without the proper resources and connections that black entrepreneurs often lack.

FC: Have you faced any obstacles as a person of color trying to launch a business? What are they? How did you overcome them?

DD: I haven’t noticed any obvious obstacles as a person of color launching Chèlbè, not to say they don’t exist.

I have had to build relationships with all types of people, going into every situation color-blind, letting my work and work ethic speak for itself. As in any growing business, there will be lots to overcome and there is always a solution for everything.

In sourcing my fabric from Greece and Lebanon, I’ve gone into situations where there was a distinct cultural and language barrier, but when it came down to it we had two things in common–the fabric and the price. Regardless of color or even language, there is always a common ground in business. You just have to find a way to make it work for everyone involved.

FC: Have you deliberately tried to be a visible face of your brand? 

DD: I’ve actually tried the opposite. I want to build Chèlbè itself as a brand having the designs and meaning speak for themselves: chic, elegant, graceful, and luxurious. Chèlbè is a lifestyle and can be translated into everything you do. I just help dress the part.

FC: What is your advice to other black people who are passionate about fashion/apparel and want to make an impact in this industry?

DD: Stay true to your vision. A lot of times we look for outside approval and conform our vision to be more “acceptable.” I always pass my designs by my sister and friends, even from the early stages when it’s just a drawing and fabric. Sometimes they love it and sometimes they don’t. Most of the time, they can’t really judge until there’s a finished product. Constructive criticism is a great tool to aid you along your journey, but sometimes only you can fully see or understand your ideas, and that’s okay.

About the author

Elizabeth Segran, Ph.D., is a staff writer at Fast Company. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Colleen has a few great ideas - so you are about to get colleen-i-fied!

For more info visit her website www.6footsix.com

Colleen stands something over six foot six and has some thoughts about the problems tall people face.

She loves cooking, but not the pain that comes with bending down to a three foot high counter.  When she asked for suggestions people told her to install taller countertops. Neat, but tough if you live in an apartment or are on a budget.

Colleen has been using her colleenified countertop to bring her work surface up to an ergonomically proper height.  You can see this in the before and after photos and the video.  You should also check out the outtakes on her colleenify blog.

Most of you will not have exactly the same ideal countertop height as she does, so the countertop can be custom made to suit anyone from about 5'9" to 7'0".

Find a friend and measure yourself and check out the product page.  Please answer the survey because we would like to know what you think!

These can be made in a variety of heights and widths. Someone who is 6'1" reports it has greatly improved his back pain doing kitchen work and the same will probably be true for any tall woman who comes here.

These are beautifully made by hand of solid maple in Kentucky and can be made to a variety of lengths and widths.  They have rubberized inserts on the feet so they won't mar your real countertop and, if you are tall enough, you can store things under yours.

If you buy one be sure to mention the word colleenified!

Confidence is Queen by Jen Sugermeyer

Jen Sugermeyer is a tall woman (6'1"), who struggled with confidence.

Jen wrote Confidence is Queen to show the way to solve any problem. Confidence is the key to face and tackle everything; your challenges, your fears, your hesitations, and it opens the door to the life you want!  If you’re starting a business, looking for love, ready to ask for that raise, looking for self-love, ready to find happiness, then confidence is your answer!

As cash is to king, confidence is to queen.  But you need to have cash to be king.  You already have confidence within you; we all do. With confidence, you can do, be, get everything you want in life, including cash.  The queen is the most powerful player in the game of chess, she can make all the moves. Learn how to start calling the shots in your life. Confidence is a mindset, and mindset is a choice.

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Dorothy-Marie "Dot" Jones was born on January 4, 1964 in Turlock, California and is a retired athlete and 2 time Emmy Nominated actress who has had multiple roles in television and film.

Dot was raised in Hilmar, CA and first got involved in strength competitions at a fairly young age. She started track in middle school then while she attended Hilmar High School, she was a champion weight lifter and named female athlete of the year. She started arm wrestling on a whim, and won her first arm wrestling world championship at 19 years old and went on to win 14 more.

After high school, Dot attended Modesto Junior College and Fresno State, where she continued her involvement with sports. She earned a Scholarship in track which paid her way through junior college and university. She played softball and competed in shot put and powerlifting. She won All-America honors in shot put, both at junior college and university, was state champion in 1983 and 1984 and set the national record at the junior college level from 1983 to 1990.

In 1988 and 1992 Dot qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials for shot put. During her sporting career, she suffered 11 knee injuries, bringing her height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) down to 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) however, a knee replacement surgery gave her lost inch back. After college, Dot worked as a youth counsellor at the Fresno County Juvenile Probation center while continuing her involvement with sports.

Dot had no intentions of acting, however, while at a bodybuilding competition, Shirley Eson of American Gladiators fame urged Jones to audition for a Medieval themed show simliar to American Gladiators, Knights and Warriors. Dot got the part, becoming regular and one of the few female warriors. She was also offered a position in professional wrestling, but turned it down to focus on acting.

Knights and Warriors only lasted one season, but for Dot, her acting career was just starting. She became a bit actor, playing small roles in several television series throughout the 1990s and 2000s and breaking into feature films in the late 1990s. While acting, she kept up her involvement with arm wrestling. In 1995, her biceps measured 171/2 in (44.45 cm).

Her first recurring role after Knights was as a character named "Dot" on the popular show Married... with Children in the mid-90s. She appeared in five episodes over two seasons. In 1999 she gained many fans with her portrayal of Rosengurtle Baumgartener in the cult hit movie, The Boondock Saints. Jones' next break was on the kids show Lizzie McGuire as Coach Kelly. Since then, she has appeared in popular shows Nip/Tuck, Desperate Housewives, and Prison Break, among others.

Dot was a big fan of Glee and having worked with series co-creator Ryan Murphy on Nip/Tuck and Pretty/Handsome, asked co-executive producer Brad Falchuk during an encounter at a supermarket if she could be on the show. Soon after, the character of Coach Shannon Beiste was created for her.

Dot is currently living in LA with her beautiful partner Bridgett and her cats Squirrel and Doolin.

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